ED Files Prosecution Complaint Against Former NCL Officer in Bribery and Disproportionate Assets Case

Background

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bhopal Zonal Office, has filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) against Shailendra Pasari, former Senior Manager (Civil), Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) before the Special PMLA Court, Jabalpur, on January 9, 2026. The court has issued notice for pre-cognizance hearing.

The ED initiated the investigation on the basis of two FIRs registered by the CBI, ACB, Jabalpur. The first FIR (RC0092018A0006 dated September 8, 2018) was registered under Sections 7 and 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, after Pasari was allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 10,000 for clearing pending escalation bills at the Jayant Project, Singrauli.

Subsequent searches conducted by the CBI resulted in the recovery of unaccounted cash of Rs. 72,97,200 from Pasari’s residence, bank lockers and office. A second FIR (RC0092018A0007 dated September 22, 2018) was registered under Sections 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(b) of the PC Act, alleging possession of disproportionate assets worth Rs. 1.30 crore (124.12%) during the check period from January 1, 2014 to September 8, 2018.

The ED has quantified the Proceeds of Crime (PoC) at Rs. 1,30,94,155, including cash seized by the CBI and assets worth Rs. 57,96,955 provisionally attached under PAO No. 03/2025 dated March 13, 2025, which was confirmed by the PMLA Adjudicating Authority, New Delhi, on August 14, 2025.

According to the ED, Pasari committed the offence of money laundering under Section 3 of the PMLA, punishable under Section 4, by acquiring, possessing, concealing and projecting the proceeds of crime as untainted.